Questions for Next Year

Maybe this should be a separate topic, but How would you build fan support at the Garden?

Lower Garden ticket prices?
Provide buses from campus?
Reach out to high school students by offering free or subsidized tickets or transportation? Each kid getting on the bus gets a school brochure with an application.
Recruit youth leagues? Designate specific sections for youth league teams...make the parents and coaches feel the kids are away from any perverts and drunks.
 
It's a mom and pop operation. I was happy to see the steps we took forward with the ad campaigns (We are NY's team), but there are still so many problems. Don't see any incentive for a person to buy season tickets, first of all, when ticket deals are constantly being offered for the same seats for cheaper.
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You are totally correct, it is a mom and pop operation in every sense other than what they are paying their coaching staff!! Just look at CA, it is a joke compared to most Div ! schools. In my opinion, the entire Univesity as a whole breeds MEDIOCRITY!!!
 
It's a mom and pop operation. I was happy to see the steps we took forward with the ad campaigns (We are NY's team), but there are still so many problems. Don't see any incentive for a person to buy season tickets, first of all, when ticket deals are constantly being offered for the same seats for cheaper.
Click to expand...

You are totally correct, it is a mom and pop operation in every sense other than what they are paying their coaching staff!! Just look at CA, it is a joke compared to most Div ! schools. In my opinion, the entire Univesity as a whole breeds MEDIOCRITY!!!
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I didn't want to bring up CA, but that place is embarrassing compared to the big time D1 schools, and even compared to some high school gyms. Just because it worked in the 70s and 80s, doesn't mean it will work now. Other programs have far advanced, and we're stuck in the past. Our recruiting advantages that we could sell kids on in the past, are long gone.
 
I think before embarking on a 100 million dollar plus arena we should attempt to increase the 4,000 average attendance and the two yearly sell outs in the current building.
 
It's a mom and pop operation. I was happy to see the steps we took forward with the ad campaigns (We are NY's team), but there are still so many problems. Don't see any incentive for a person to buy season tickets, first of all, when ticket deals are constantly being offered for the same seats for cheaper.
Click to expand...

You are totally correct, it is a mom and pop operation in every sense other than what they are paying their coaching staff!! Just look at CA, it is a joke compared to most Div ! schools. In my opinion, the entire Univesity as a whole breeds MEDIOCRITY!!!
Click to expand...

I didn't want to bring up CA, but that place is embarrassing compared to the big time D1 schools, and even compared to some high school gyms. Just because it worked in the 70s and 80s, doesn't mean it will work now. Other programs have far advanced, and we're stuck in the past. Our recruiting advantages that we could sell kids on in the past, are long gone.
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Sorry but with Taffner, NYC and the Garden we have enough going for us to attract talent. The coach and the team's performance are what produces recruits. We are sorely lacking in those departments and until that changes nothing else will. Say what you will about NY fans but they are not stupid. One quality win does not produce crowds and after this season my investment in season tickets seems completely futile once again. Fool me once is OK but after a dozen or so repetitions you start to wonder about your sanity. Throughout this nonsense Lavin continues to make millions and basks in the aura of his reputation as a great recruiter with little to show for it. It's hilarious that Norm Roberts is the one who assembled our only recent NCAA team. He stunk but at least he was paid accordingly. Now that we upped the ante dramatically we are still mired in failure. You really can't make this up and it's about time somebody paid for it.besides the poor fans. Screw SJU for now. Wake me when we sign somebody worthwhile.
 
There are all sorts of opinions on why SJU attendance isn't the overwhelming numbers that we would like to see at MSG.

but, let me digress. The HARDY team was as exciting a team we put on the floor since the ARTEST/BARKLEY team for 1 year. Those teams won and played good team basketball. They both got the city at large as well as, other local fans, to games by the way they contended. THEY ALSO LOOKED GOOD PLAYING.

The Lavin recruit team plays like a group of guys playing a schoolyard game..Frankly, it's ugly and frustrating basketball to watch. Has been since Steve got here. Yeah, it's exciting to see dunks and fast breaks and steals but, it's also ho hum to watch us play against a zone. YOU COULD TAKE A NAP.

In the Providence game, they looked again like a team that hadn't seen a zone defense all season.. A lot of that is due to CO having virtually no inside offensive game for the few minutes he's in there before getting in foul trouble.. And, all our opponents know he's no threat to score or, make a passing play.

Sampson's jump shot is inconsistent and team's play him for the move to the basket. And, when he goes to the hoop he often doesn't finish or gets fouled. Shooting 58% from the line means we have a lot of empty trips from him..Greene and Harrison, sometimes Jordan throw up a prayer shot with the shot clock winding down because nothing happened in the previous 30 seconds.. Ooops, Phil Greene dribbling for 15 seconds is not exciting.

We are a poor fg shooting team and the 3pt shot is limited to Harrison or Jordan , who are not really shooters. Most of our opponents have 2-3 guys who are really dangerous from the trey line and they use it as a part of their offense. We have no offensive pattern, so our 3's are usually free lanced.

NYC fans are not excited about SJU BASKETBALL because it's been, at best, a mediocre season and the team hasn't won many big games all season. Creighton was a great win but, we had no follow up against Nova, Xavier or Providence 3.

A lot of it too, is as many have said NYC supports winners and this team has not yet qualified for that designation.. We basically failed in every big game.. And, several minor ones too. The late night and SUNDAY Night games at MSG aren't conducive to large attendance, either.

HARDY'S team captured the City, nobody knows who is the identity of this Group.. Harrison? Jordan? He will be but, not yet.

And, SJU fans like most old time GIANTS fans don't get excited until play on the field stimulates stand up and cheer. Businessmen who went to the game in suits aren't likely wearing red either, so who could tell? And, excepting the last 6 minutes against PC, what was there to cheer for? Pointer's shooting? Greene's play? CO's fouls?

If this program can become a league Contender again, not a 5th place team, fans will show up in numbers.
 
Maybe I have the blinders on, but the potential is there to get fans in the seats. St. John's is a big university and it graduates thousands of students per year. It has a large number of alumni in the Tristate Area with disposable income. IMO, the problem is the school has essentially lost its fan base. The program was a perennial power in the 1980's and had some very good years in the 1990's (I remember going to the UConn games in the late '90s and seeing the Garden completely sold out). Unfortunately, the program was ignored pretty much after the year 2000. We saw regime changes and as a result some pretty awful basketball. Sure, we had blips on the radar with the Hatten team and Lavin's first year in Queens. But for the most part, we've been an irrelevant program for quite some time. And as a result, you pretty much lost a generation of fans. I graduated in 2008 and I can tell you I see virtually nobody from my former classes coming to Carnesecca Arena or MSG. None of them cared then and I can pretty much guarantee none of them care now.

Now, the university can't really fix its past mistakes. They happened and that's pretty much that. But what it can do it look towards the future. They still have a diehard fan base, albeit a small one. Treat them with respect and recognize those are the ones in the seats game after game after game. And they've stuck with you through all of the trials and tribulations. The next step is to get the young graduates and current alum into the program. Now, that's the tougher part and I'll leave it up to smarter minds than me. But I think the ideas of some of the posters are legitimate. How about lowering ticket prices? Granted, I'm not sure if this is possible at the Garden, but it's more than doable at Carnesecca Arena. At the end of the day, nobody should be paying $35 to go see Bucknell with an attendance of 3,500 in the stands. So make the prices fan friendly. And for current students, how about the first 1,000 fans get in for free? Or we could do what some have suggested and move some of the middle of the pack games to Carnesecca. Providence, DePaul, Butler, etc. If you schedule it at a good time, I think you sell out those games.

Yes, you make take a temporary hit. If the school takes aggressive steps like that, yes they are likely to lose money in the short term. But you also build good will with the younger generation of fans. You positively reinforce that coming to a St. John's game can be a lot of fun. And those fans will get older and stick with the team. Again, maybe I'm talking out of my ass but I think there are ways you can get the fans in the seats. You just have to start thinking big picture.
 
I will start out by saying I am extremely disappointed by this season. What hurts the most is being one game away from being invited to the tournament...thinking back to our best FT shooter on the line at Penn State with no time left and a chance to win it but missing makes that even harder. Dropping the ball against Depaul in 2OT even worse, as a win there is a 15+swing in RPI position.

I think next year is different all around. Jordan will be one of the best in the country.... Harrison as well. I think the roles will be clearly sorted out, and Greene, for example, will go into this offseason knowing he's solely and two-gaurd. Sanchez really need more than a year and he hurt us as much as he helped us with his poor defense, excessive fouls, and awful rebounding range.

What scares me is that 2-3 zones hurt us way too much. Sampson needs 15 pounds of muscle and we need a SF that is committed to hitting the damn boards and working the baseline. That is how you make them pay for zoning you.

I hope Jones comes back with a different mentality because I would not be able to stomach two forwards that can't rebound.
I hope Pointer either has a complete overhaul of his game and his role on this team, transfers, or Lavin finally takes the blinders off and gives Balamou his minutes.
I hope CO stays and has a great summer because I really am starting to like him and we are much better on both sides of the floor with him in the game.
My boy Balamou needs a legit look because he brings everything the 2013-2014 team lacks.
I think Whitesell's presence will be felt much more next season.
 
I have watched team after team have success running 6'4" to 6'6" quick release jump-shooting wings off ball screens, picks, and curls and wonder if those types of players (once named Schaefer, Cluess and McEntyre at STJ are now banned from the program. Don't know if Felix can do that.
 
It's a mom and pop operation. I was happy to see the steps we took forward with the ad campaigns (We are NY's team), but there are still so many problems. Don't see any incentive for a person to buy season tickets, first of all, when ticket deals are constantly being offered for the same seats for cheaper.
Click to expand...

You are totally correct, it is a mom and pop operation in every sense other than what they are paying their coaching staff!! Just look at CA, it is a joke compared to most Div ! schools. In my opinion, the entire Univesity as a whole breeds MEDIOCRITY!!!
Click to expand...

I didn't want to bring up CA, but that place is embarrassing compared to the big time D1 schools, and even compared to some high school gyms. Just because it worked in the 70s and 80s, doesn't mean it will work now. Other programs have far advanced, and we're stuck in the past. Our recruiting advantages that we could sell kids on in the past, are long gone.
Click to expand...

Screw SJU for now. Wake me when we sign somebody worthwhile.
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I think you did wake up - as soon as we lost.
 
I have watched team after team have success running 6'4" to 6'6" quick release jump-shooting wings off ball screens, picks, and curls and wonder if those types of players (once named Schaefer, Cluess and McEntyre at STJ are now banned from the program. Don't know if Felix can do that.
Click to expand...

From observing the small sample of Felix's work at St John's, he appears to have Willie Glass - type shooting range
 
I have watched team after team have success running 6'4" to 6'6" quick release jump-shooting wings off ball screens, picks, and curls and wonder if those types of players (once named Schaefer, Cluess and McEntyre at STJ are now banned from the program. Don't know if Felix can do that.
Click to expand...

From observing the small sample of Felix's work at St John's, he appears to have Willie Glass - type shooting range
Click to expand...

He can shoot...it's not the best looking release, but it's quick and he is confident. No reason he can't stick 33% next season with good shot selection and the puppies set.
Balawho? Balamou!

For your viewing pleasure, ladies:

Balamou double-block v. South Carolina. Notice the awareness and positioning of his man as he goes for both blocks. Damn impressive after watching guys fly in untouched all year without someone putting a back into them.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/1812909/balamou-blockx2sm.gif

Balamou alley-oop on a break. Dom and Balamou on the wings...Dom jogs to the three point line while Balamou sprints there, recognizes the backdoor is left wide open, signlas D'lo for the oop and throws it down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HjkMAWh-Ys8
 
I have watched team after team have success running 6'4" to 6'6" quick release jump-shooting wings off ball screens, picks, and curls and wonder if those types of players (once named Schaefer, Cluess and McEntyre at STJ are now banned from the program. Don't know if Felix can do that.
Click to expand...

From observing the small sample of Felix's work at St John's, he appears to have Willie Glass - type shooting range
Click to expand...

He can shoot...it's not the best looking release, but it's quick and he is confident. No reason he can't stick 33% next season with good shot selection and the puppies set.
Balawho? Balamou!

For your viewing pleasure, ladies:

Balamou double-block v. South Carolina. Notice the awareness and positioning of his man as he goes for both blocks. Damn impressive after watching guys fly in untouched all year without someone putting a back into them.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/1812909/balamou-blockx2sm.gif

Balamou alley-oop on a break. Dom and Balamou on the wings...Dom jogs to the three point line while Balamou sprints there, recognizes the backdoor is left wide open, signlas D'lo for the oop and throws it down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HjkMAWh-Ys8
Click to expand...
When Marillac starts breaking down game film on redmen.com you know he's ALL IN on Felix.

I actually like Felix a lot also because the kid has serious legs and I like how he gets after it and also had some nice blocks for his size. Hope his offense comes around. I really wish he was 3 inches taller because he could be pretty sick
 
If for whatever reasons Obekpa doesn't return.............................................................
Bye bye.
 
I have watched team after team have success running 6'4" to 6'6" quick release jump-shooting wings off ball screens, picks, and curls and wonder if those types of players (once named Schaefer, Cluess and McEntyre at STJ are now banned from the program. Don't know if Felix can do that.
Click to expand...

From observing the small sample of Felix's work at St John's, he appears to have Willie Glass - type shooting range
Click to expand...

He can shoot...it's not the best looking release, but it's quick and he is confident. No reason he can't stick 33% next season with good shot selection and the puppies set.
Balawho? Balamou!

For your viewing pleasure, ladies:

Balamou double-block v. South Carolina. Notice the awareness and positioning of his man as he goes for both blocks. Damn impressive after watching guys fly in untouched all year without someone putting a back into them.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/1812909/balamou-blockx2sm.gif

Balamou alley-oop on a break. Dom and Balamou on the wings...Dom jogs to the three point line while Balamou sprints there, recognizes the backdoor is left wide open, signlas D'lo for the oop and throws it down.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HjkMAWh-Ys8
Click to expand...
When Marillac starts breaking down game film on redmen.com you know he's ALL IN on Felix.

I actually like Felix a lot also because the kid has serious legs and I like how he gets after it and also had some nice blocks for his size. Hope his offense comes around. I really wish he was 3 inches taller because he could be pretty sick
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Hahaha I love Balamou's potential. Dom makes me sick to my stomach.
BTW, in that double-block by Balamou, watch Pointer...so lazy, so impossibly lazy.
 
If for whatever reasons Obekpa doesn't return.............................................................
Bye bye.
Click to expand...

I disagree Tom. I usually one of the more negative posters but I don't think Obepka leaving necessarily kills us. He did improve over last year but he's still basically a one trick pony, he blocks shots. While he is a presence in that regard, he doesn't score, he can't shoot FT's and he doesn't rebound as well as he should for someone of his size and wingspan. Adonis Delarosa, while needing to get in better shape, is probably better offensively in the low post right now than Obepka, he can probably rebound better, and while I don't know the percentages, looking at the point totals that he has put up is probably a better foul shooter right now also. The question is his conditioning. He can work on that in the off season. With his brother Joey backing him up, I know Joey had very low numbers at FIU, but all we need him to do is play defense and rebound for 5 - 10 minutes a game. Joey is huge also. Between the two I think we'll be ok. Let's face it, Rysheed, D-Lo and Sampson will be the ones to carry this team next year. Everyone else just has to know their roll and play it well. Jones showed some offensive ability last year, he can give us what Gift gave us, probably more. I expect big things out of Rysheed next year, D-Lo I think will continue to improve. The wildcard in my eyes is Sampson. He must get stronger and must become more consistent from the perimeter. If Sampson can do that and Lavin can bring in a JUCO combo forward who's got some game and can give us what Sanchez gave us we'll be fine with the Delarosa boys at Center next year.
 
We can analyze all we want, the fact is if we go into next season with JaKarr Sampson, Christian Jones, and the Delarosa brothers, the team is in major trouble.

I wasn't a huge fan of Orlando Sanchez or God's Gift games, but you aren't replacing their production with the Delarosa brothers.
 
I will start out by saying I am extremely disappointed by this season. What hurts the most is being one game away from being invited to the tournament...thinking back to our best FT shooter on the line at Penn State with no time left and a chance to win it but missing makes that even harder. Dropping the ball against Depaul in 2OT even worse, as a win there is a 15+swing in RPI position.

I think next year is different all around. Jordan will be one of the best in the country.... Harrison as well. I think the roles will be clearly sorted out, and Greene, for example, will go into this offseason knowing he's solely and two-gaurd. Sanchez really need more than a year and he hurt us as much as he helped us with his poor defense, excessive fouls, and awful rebounding range.

What scares me is that 2-3 zones hurt us way too much. Sampson needs 15 pounds of muscle and we need a SF that is committed to hitting the damn boards and working the baseline. That is how you make them pay for zoning you.

I hope Jones comes back with a different mentality because I would not be able to stomach two forwards that can't rebound.
I hope Pointer either has a complete overhaul of his game and his role on this team, transfers, or Lavin finally takes the blinders off and gives Balamou his minutes.
I hope CO stays and has a great summer because I really am starting to like him and we are much better on both sides of the floor with him in the game.
My boy Balamou needs a legit look because he brings everything the 2013-2014 team lacks.
I think Whitesell's presence will be felt much more next season.
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I really want to share your optimism but am I missing something that you see in Balamou. Can you explain where you think he fits into next year's team and what kind of numbers that you see him putting up? I saw nothing in his game last year to make me think he has the talent to make an impact in the Big East.
 
If for whatever reasons Obekpa doesn't return.............................................................
Bye bye.
Click to expand...

I disagree Tom. I usually one of the more negative posters but I don't think Obepka leaving necessarily kills us. He did improve over last year but he's still basically a one trick pony, he blocks shots. While he is a presence in that regard, he doesn't score, he can't shoot FT's and he doesn't rebound as well as he should for someone of his size and wingspan. Adonis Delarosa, while needing to get in better shape, is probably better offensively in the low post right now than Obepka, he can probably rebound better, and while I don't know the percentages, looking at the point totals that he has put up is probably a better foul shooter right now also. The question is his conditioning. He can work on that in the off season. With his brother Joey backing him up, I know Joey had very low numbers at FIU, but all we need him to do is play defense and rebound for 5 - 10 minutes a game. Joey is huge also. Between the two I think we'll be ok. Let's face it, Rysheed, D-Lo and Sampson will be the ones to carry this team next year. Everyone else just has to know their roll and play it well. Jones showed some offensive ability last year, he can give us what Gift gave us, probably more. I expect big things out of Rysheed next year, D-Lo I think will continue to improve. The wildcard in my eyes is Sampson. He must get stronger and must become more consistent from the perimeter. If Sampson can do that and Lavin can bring in a JUCO combo forward who's got some game and can give us what Sanchez gave us we'll be fine with the Delarosa boys at Center next year.
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Mean Gean, did you see what Providence did inside against us with Obekpa on the bench? Who`s our game changr next year if he`s gone? If he quit then to hell with him, GOOD BYE.
Not only him but we also lose two mature and experience bigs in Sanchez and GG. Who will we replace them with?
Jones, who redshirted this year, and Adonis, fresh out of HS.

I`m hoping that Obekpa`s ankle was hurting and he couldn`t play, and he stays next year, because if he leaves then there`s no way we get to the NCAA again next year. Though something tells me that he just refused to play, which most likely cost us that game.
That`s what boils me to no end..
If I was Lavin I would have told CO to GTF off the bench and go to the locker. If he didn`t then I`d personally grab his jersey and drag him in there.
 
I have watched team after team have success running 6'4" to 6'6" quick release jump-shooting wings off ball screens, picks, and curls and wonder if those types of players (once named Schaefer, Cluess and McEntyre at STJ are now banned from the program. Don't know if Felix can do that.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't matter if we had a plethora of those type of players as our staff has not shown the ability to teach ball screens, picks, or curls.
 
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